Sunday, March 17, 2013

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

I. Adored. This. Book. There were actually quite a few reviews of this book that mentioned how they liked Saving June, Harrington's debut, a lot more then Speechless. I'm really happy that I read Speechless first because maybe I wouldn't have liked it as much as I did. Also, this means I have Saving June to look forward to reading!While this may sound like an insult to some people, I think of it as a compliment: Speechless made me feel like I was watching a really good Lifetime movie. Almost like a moderately different but still similar version of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. And while there are similarities, the differences are large enough so I don't feel like I'm reading the same book.Two of the main characters, Sam and Asha, are some of the most lovable characters I've had the pleasure to meet. What I loved the most about Chelsea and Sam's relationship, is that it took time. Yeah, they connected and there might have been some instant chemistry, but it took time for the both of them to realize that. It was real and believable. Asha (Chelsea's new BFF,) is the sweetest girl ever. I hope I get to meet someone like her someday, because she's absolutely perfect. Let's talk about the cover. I know there's a few different covers for Speechless, but I prefer the blank white one. It's definitely risky, because it's so blank. A lot of people (including myself) choose books by their cover. That's exactly what attracted me to this book though! The cover made me curious enough to figure out why it's so plain. I like how it fits the novel so well and I hope other readers can agree with that! I've had a craving for contemp novels lately, and Speechless definitely helped while making me want more. Overall, I'm really pleased that I read this book and I would recommend it to anyone in the mood for a great contemp and fans of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.What do all of you think of the cover? I'm dying to know what everyone else thinks of it. Leave a comment below and let me know!